01 Dec 2019

The Tawana Land Board has not been allocating plots in the district due to both human and financial resource challenges, Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila has said.

Mr Mzwinila noted that most of the approved layouts were pending strategic environmental assessment while the North West District Council had budgeted for strategic environmental assessment in 25 villages across the district including Khwai and Sankoyo.

“The procurement process for both are ongoing and it is envisaged that these will be undertaken during the next financial year,” he said in response to a question from Maun West MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile.

Mr Kekgonegile wanted to be appraised on the status of tribal land allocation in Khwai, Sankoyo, Sexaxa and Mochaba in terms of when allocations were last made by the Tawana Land Board.

The MP also wanted to know why there had been delays or suspensions of allocations and when the next allocations would be made in the said villages including on the land allocations demarcating Mababe to allow for both state and tribal land.

Minister Mzwinila also told Parliament that the last tribal land allocation was made at Khwai in April 2016, Sankoyo in December 2016 and Sexaxa in August 2016.

He also explained that the land board could not allocate residential plots in Mochaba because it was still not recognised as a formal settlement.

He said Sexaxa was awaiting surveying and compensation for the acquired land parcels of which once completed, the next allocations would be done during the 2020/21 financial year.

The minister further clarified that Mababe was situated in state land, noting that the Tawana Land Board had however been allocating land in Mababe unaware that it was outside the jurisdiction until it was realised and stopped in 2012.

 “In 2018 cabinet took a decision that Mababe should remain state land and no further allocations are made in the settlement,” he said. ENDS